Pneumatic conveyor structure



March 16, 1965 H. w. DIETERT 3,173,725

PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR STRUCTURE Original Filed Feb. 18, 1963 FIG. 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. HARRY W. DIETERT BY MM Maw ATTORN YS United States Patent 3,173,725 PNEUMATTC COFWEYGR STRUCTURE Harry Walter Dietert, Kerrville, Tex., assignor to Harry W. Dietert Co., Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original application Feb. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 259,069. Divided and this application Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No.

4 Claims. (Cl. sin-5s The. invention relates to material handling apparatus and refers more specifically to pneumatic conveyor structure for transferring powdered material between predetermined locations.

This application is a division of application, Serial No.

259,069, filed February 18, 1963.

' subsequently transported to the location of use thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide'improved apparatus for transporting powdered material from one location to another.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure for transferring powdered material from one location to another.

Another object is to provide structure for transferring powdered material from one location to another including a storage tank for the powdered material, a discharge conduit extending from the storage tank to the location to which it is desired to transfer the powdered material from the storage tank, means for sealing the storage tank with powdered material therein, and means for passing air under pressure into the storage tank.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure as set forth above and further including a filter extending over a substantial area of the tank between the means for passing air into the tank and the powdered material in the tank.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure as set forth above wherein the means for introducing air into the tank comprises a manifold secured to the exterior of the tank and openings between the tank and manifold. V

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure as set forth above wherein the means for sealingthe tank comprises a valved opening in the tank through which powdered material may be placed in the tank.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor struc ture as set forth above wherein one end of the conduit is positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank and the conduit extends to the tank at the side thereof at approximately thirty degrees thereto.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure as set forth above wherein the tank has a conical bottom tapering to a narrow outlet opening and one end of the conduit is secured to the narrow outlet opening.

Another object is to provide pneumatic conveyor structure which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will be come apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevation view, partly broken away, of pneumatic conveyor structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

3,173,725 Patented Mar. 16, 1985 ice FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross section View of a portion of the pneumatic conveyor structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken substantially on the line 22 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section view of a modification of the pneumatic conveyor apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawing, one embodiment of thepresent invention will now be considered in detail.

As shown best in FIGURE 1, the pneumatic conveyor structure 19 includes the tank 12 for receiving powdered material to be transferred to storage bin 14, sealing structure 16 for sealing tank 12 as desired, conduit 18 eX- tending between tank 12 and storage bin 14, and mani fold 29 for introducing air into the tank 12 through filter 22. i

In operation powdered material is passed through the open sealing structure 16 into the tank 12. The sealing structure 16 is then actuated to seal the tank 12, after which air under pressure is admitted through manifold 20 and filter 22 into the tank 12. The powdered material is drawn through the conduit 18 along with air under pressure into bin 14 to transport the powdered material between the tank 12 and the bin114.

More specifically powdered material, such as Hygeria wood flour, Sea Coal or Bentonite which are bonding agent additives for foundry granular material, is positioned in the tank 12 through opening 24 in the automatic sack opening structure 26. Sack opening structure 26 is considered in greater detail in the above referenced copending patent application. Briefly, the sack opening structure 26 includes a housing 28 having opening 30 in the side thereof, door 32 for opening 30 actuated by piston and cylinder structure 34, knife means 36 and grate 38 extending transversely of the housing 28.

In operation a sack 40 of powdered material is positioned on door 32 in the open position andthe door 32 is closed by actuation of piston and cylinder structure 34 in the usual manner. The sack 40 of powdered material is thus thrown on the knife 36 and is split open. The portions of the sack 40 re retained on grate 38 so that they may be removed from the housing 28 on opening of the door 32. The powdered material passes through the grate 3S and opening 24 in housing 28 into the tank 12 with the sealing structure 16 in an open position.

Sealing structure 16 includes the actuating piston and cylinder structure 42 which may be supported by grate 38 as shown or by housing 28, the conical valve 44 secured to the piston and cylinder structure 42 and the annular sealing ring 46 positioned around the periphery of the opening 24. The piston and cylinder structure 42 may be conceniently pneumatically actuated as will be understood bythose in the art in accordance with the operating sequence of the pneumatic conveyor structure 11 which will be set forth subsequently in consideration of the over-all operation of "the apparatus 10. 'Tank 12, as shown best in FIGURE 1, includes the cylindrical upper portion 48 secured to the housing 28 about flanges 50 and the conical lower portion 52. The filter 22 is secured in the conical portion 52 of tank 48 and provides an inner lining therefor, whereby in operation a plenum chamber 54 is provided between the conical portion 52 of tank 12 and powdered material positioned therein. The filter 22 may be of any desired flexible permeable material, such as canvas, metal cloth and the like.

The manifold 20 for introducing air into the tank 12 is a hollow annular structure, as shown best in FIGURE 2. Openings 56 are provided through the conical portion 52 of tank 12 at the inner periphery of the hollow annular structure through which air in the manifold 20 is passed 3, into the plenum chamber 54 between the filter and the conical portion of the tank 12. A connection 53 into the manifold 20 from a convenient source of air under pressure is provided. I

Conduit-18, as shown in FIGUREI, is i'igidand extendsiromthe bottom6'0 of the conical portion 52 of tank 12 out through opening 62 in tank12 to the top-64 of storage bin 14. The conduit 18-is curved-gradually and-makes-an angle of approximately thirty degrees with the tank'12 as it passes through the tank 12 to enhance the ,fiow characteristics of the powdered material from the tank 12 through the conduit 18 to the storage bin'14.

Thus in over-all operation withthe valve 44 do'wn or in an open. position: a sack of -flovvable powdered material, such-as a bonding agent for foundry-granular material, is positio'ned'on the open door 32 and the door 32 is closed causing the sack 40 to be split open onknife 36,

whereby the powdered material passes through the opening24 into tank 48., The-door 32 is 'then.opened, the

split sackremoved and the operation is repeated until a desired quantity. of powdered material is in thetank 12.

-The valve '44 is then closed by convenient switching apqparatus ,(not shown), after which air under pressure is aadmittedihto the manifold structure20 through inlet 58 from a source of air (not shown). The air then passes through openings- 56 and into the plenum chamber 54'be- @tween filter 22 and the conical. portion 52 of tank 12. The air "filters through the filter 22. and-is thus disbursed through the powdered material in the conical section 52 of the tank 12. 1 The air from manifold 20 thus does not tend to form direct paths from the openings 56 to the end 66 of conduit18. The powdered material inr the tank 48-is thusfluidized and caused to pass into the end 66 of condun 18 along with-the airfrom manifold' 2 and is-carried through conduit 18tothe storage bin 14. The air 'isthenaallowed to esc'ape'from the storage bin -14,*leaving "the powdered materialwhich has been tran'sferredfrom "the tank 12 in the bin 14.

It will be readily recognized that 'theftr'a'nsfer of powdered material from 'the tank 12'to the storage bin 14 has been'dust free. Further the structure'- is par't-icularly simple 'in' construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

The modified pneumatic conveyor'ist'ructure 68 illus- 't'rated in FIGURE 3 is similar 'to'the pneumatic conveyor "structure '10 illustrated in FIGURE 1 in that powdered material passes "from the automatic sack opening structure 70 which is more fully set forth in the above refer- 'enced eopending patentapplication through the opening 72 with thesealing structure 74 open into thetank 76.

The powdered material is then transferred out of 'thetank 76 through the conduit 78 by means of airunder' pressure passed into the't'ank 76 from a'source of air 80 (not shown) passing through manifold 82' 'and'filter 84 with 'the'seali'ng structure74 closed as before.

The flow of powderedmaterialfrom the modified pneumatic conveyor structure 68 is" enhanced however'sin'ce the conduit 78is securedflto the smaller end 86 of the conicalportion 88 of tank 76.

While 'o'ne'embodiment of p the present invention and a single modification thereof have been considered 'in the base thereof; a-valve" opening-inthe upper'end of the cylindrical portion of. the tank through whichpowdered material may be passed into the tank, valve means for selectively closing said valveopening-includinga rubberlike sealing member around the peripheryof the valve opening, a frusto-conical valve member having a smaller diameter end extending out of the tank through the valve opening and a larger diameter .end within-the tank and means for urgin'gthe valve member but of the tank, an annular manifoldv positioned centrally of the altitude of the frusto-conical portion of said tank, openings in said frusto-conic'al portion of said tank extending'between the tank and the annular manifold, means'for passing-air under pressure "into the manifold, a flexible frusto=eoni= cal filter member having concave sides having a larger di= ameter endconnected at the junction between the frusto= conical portion and cylindrical portion of said tank and a smaller diameter end connected at the smaller diameter end' of the frusto-conical portion of said tank 'fbrproducing a plenum chamber between thefr-usto-conical portion of the tank and the filter member on introduction of air into the air manifoldunder pressure and a conduit extending out of the tank from the'sm'aller diameter end of a the frusto-conical portion of the tank through which the powdered material is carried from-the tank on introduction of air into'the plenum chamber fr'omthe manifold. 2. Structure as set'forth in'claim 1 whereinthe filter member is a metal cloth.

3. Structure as set forth in c1aim2 where-inthe conduit extends upwardly from the smaller end of the frustoconical portion of the tank and out of the side of'the cylindrical portion of the tank and'theco nduit is gradually curved as it extendsout of the tank at-an angle of substantially thirty degrees with respect thereto.

'4. Structure as set forth in claim '2;wherein"one end of the conduit is connected directly to the smaller diameter end of the frusto-conical, portion of the tank.

References Cited bythe'Exahiiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,112 12/37 Costello 302 53 2,221,741 11/40 Vogel-Jorgensen 302-53 2,897,009 7/59 Gianniny 302- -29 2,924,489 a 2/60 Beckmann 302 29 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,265 5/54 GreatB'ritain.

. SAMUEL- F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING POWDERED MATERIAL FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER COMPRISING A TANK INCLUDING AN UPPER CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND A LOWER INVERTED FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION HAVING AN ALTITUDE GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE BASE THEREOF, A VALVE OPENING IN THE UPPER END OF THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF THE TANK THROUGH WHICH POWDERED MATERIAL MAY BE PASSED INTO THE TANK, VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING SAID VALVE OPENING INCLUDING A RUBBERLIKE SEALING MEMBER AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE VALVE OPENING, A FRUSTO-CONICAL VALVE MEMBER HAVING A SMALLER DIAMETER END EXTENDING OUT OF THE TANK THROUGH THE VALVE OPENING AND A LARGER DIAMETER END WITHIN THE TANK AND MEANS FOR URGING THE VALVE MEMBER OUT OF THE TANK, AN ANNULAR MANIFOLD POSITIONED CENTRALLY OF THE ALTITUDE OF THE FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION OF SAID TANK, OPENINGS IN SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION OF SAID TANK EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE ANNULAR MANIFOLD, MEANS FOR PASSING AIR UNDER PRESSURE INTO THE MANIFOLD, A FLEXIBLE FRUSTO-CONICAL FILTER MEMBER HAVING CONCAVE SIDES HAVING A LARGER DIAMETER END CONNECTED AT THE JUNCTION BETWEEN THE FRUSTOCONICAL PORTION AND CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID TANK AND A SMALLER DIAMETER END CONNECTED AT THE SMALLER DIAMETER END OF THE FRUSTO-COINCAL PORTION OF SAID TANK FOR PRODUCING A PLENUM CHAMBER BETWEEN THE FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION OF THE TANK AND THE FILTER MEMBER ON INTRODUCTION OF AIR INTO THE AIR MANIFOLD UNDER PRESSURE AND A CONDUIT EXTENDING OUT OF THE TANK FROM THE SMALLER DIAMETER END OF THE FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION OF THE TANK THROUGH WHICH THE POWDERED MATERIAL IS CARRIED FROM THE TANK ON INTRODUCTION OF AIR INTO THE PLENUM CHAMBER FROM THE MANIFOLD. 